Recommend a good budget BBQ?

[AvoidingTheWineAisle]

I’ve never had a barbecue grill before, but would like to get one for half term next week.

Can anyone recommend a decent quality low budget one? Just something to barbecue for a family of four.

I have no idea what you’d need to spend to get something half decent. So any suggestions at all (just not bells-on ones costing thousands!) would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

Charcoal or gas?

Argos have one for £10, it's good. Does the trick

£10?! Wow, wasn’t expecting that .

I don’t even know whether I want charcoal or gas?! I’m thinking charcoal for the flavour possibly?

As you can probably tell I am clueless!

I got a family sized barrel one from Tesco for £40 this summer. A bag of charcoal was about £6.50 and has done four family-sized meals.

Unless you are going to get seriously into it a gas one is much easier if you want to use it for a few quick meals each week - but then you need gas which can be expensive. I was surprised how flavourful it was. If you do go gas get one with a good warranty as our burner rusted though after a year.

If you just want to use it a couple of times a year then probably go for a charcoal. When I got my first charcoal one years ago it took me ages to actually build the thing so be warned! And get a bbq chimney Starter and to learn how to use it from you tube. And some good heat proof gloves!

I'd give charcoal, make sure the cooking shelf is height adjustable. Something like this was what I had for years. Most DIY places sell them.

Although bbqs with lids seem much more popular now- husband bought a Weber. He can cook a joint in it, or use it to smoke food. Because you can use less coals and have a lower heat because when you put the lid on it stays quite hot.

Unless you're really sure that you're going to use it more just this half term have you considered just getting the disposable ones they tend to come in a couple of different sizes and very between and £4 up to about 6 for the be expensive ones I find the Cook fairly well for about an hour to 2 hours so I used to time start one and start cooking stuff that needs to cook quickly on there then half an hour or so later like the other one the first one then cook stuff slowly and the second one can continue to do quick cook stuff
No cleaning up to do after just wait until it's all cool and chuck it in the bin I have been known to salvage some of the unburnt coals off them and put them on next one the following time.

Weber are really good, but might be a bit pricer than you might want to spend.
What are you cooking? If its chicken, you need something with a cover so you can create an oven effect, or else chicken will take a very long time on the flame. I think this one is meant to be good cheapo:
www.argos.co.uk/product/3451618?clickSR=slp:term:bbq:2:72:1
Marinate chicken over night. Try a Soy and Honey mix.